ALYCE RITTI
Mixed Media Collages
Alyce Ritti
170 Cherrywood Way
Port Matilda, PA 16870
(814) 692- 5356 rrr@psu.edu
Because human folly is the overall theme in my current collage work I never run
out of inspiration. The noise of daily life fuels my creativity .Literature and
legend helps me interpret my related series. No matter what, the tiny pieces
usually turn out to be funny. I continue the European collage tradition by using
“ordinary” and non-Art materials to critique our society. These are usually
re-cycled bits of paper, cut-outs, fabric and ribbon scraps, used jewelry and
other actual objects like tickets, feathers and netting.
My favorite series is The Seven Deadly Sins. I don’t remember how I started it but I have immersed myself in the study of the medieval concept; the Seven Storey Mountain that is Purgatory and must be climbed in order to find redemption. I chose W.S. Merwin’s (2000) verse translation (2000) of Dante’s “Purgatorio”(1307-1308) for inspiration to enhance my vision of “sinners”. Like Dante I present “Turkeys I have Known” to people my contemporary pieces.
. I think he would have enjoyed that because his “shades” were mirror images of “turkeys” he had known. I do not think my other historical influence, the artist Botticelli would. He illustrated “The Divine Comedy.” ( Purgatorio is the middle part) during 1480-1495 and seemed pleased with it.. So I have renamed my sins series “Variations on a Theme by Dante”. Seven or more follies/sins appear on my current website this year.
If I ever have to argue with Botticelli about Art, possibly in Terrace I, ” Pride.” I will present him with the following (brief) credentials.
My collages (an art-form that neither gentlemen would even imagine) have been world-travelers. Sometimes I tag along. I have accompanied them to Paris and Oslo. They have cris-crossed the continent, being seen also in Rome, Venice, Beijing, Belgium and Central Europe. In the U.S. they have appeared in California, Kansas, New York (including Manhatten), Washington, D.C. and Illinois (Chicago) .And of course in many PA venues: notably in Lorretto (SAMA purchased one for their permanent collection), Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Altoona, University Park, State College, Lemont, Bellefonte, Spruce Creek, Centre Hall and up-coming Millheim. Collectors are on both sides of the Atlantic. Solo shows have received good reviews, such as this local one:
“Ritti creates with absolute awareness of her artistic tradition, however much her collages seem to rebel against other traditions”..”Viewers can expect to spend time in front of her work...” And then there is the comment from “Fred” who said “I love your work.! Crazy stuff! But I don’t think I would like you.”.
My work is included in “Collage, Assemblage, and Altered Art”
by Diane Maurer Mathison,
in a Chicago gallery date-book and in “International Women
Artists” vols. 1 and 2, by Georgette Owens.
Related activity is arts writing, teaching, demonstrating and judging.
My collages have been seen all across the US and in Europe.
Ten can currently
be seen on-line here at my web site,
www.artalliancepa.org/AlyceRitti.htm.
I can be reached by e-mail at
alyceritti@artalliancepa.org
or rrr@psu.edu